Around the globe teachers and students led the massive outpouring of solidarity on World AIDS Day within their schools, workplaces and communities. EI’s engaging activity ‘One Hour on AIDS’ was just one of the ways that teachers and their unions showed their commitment to educating about HIV and AIDS issues and supporting those living with HIV.
In Argentina, the House of Representatives of the city of Buenos Aires recognised CTERA for its longstanding work in the field of HIV/AIDS. During a ceremony on 28 November, Francisco Nenna, Deputy General Secretary, accepted the award on behalf of CTERA.
On World AIDS Day, CTERA ran activities under the slogan ‘Let’s Talk about HIV and AIDS at school’. At its Voluntary Testing and Counselling Centre, CTERA opened its doors to the community and offered its services on a free, voluntary and confidential basis. In a World AIDS Day statement, CTERA reaffirmed its “commitment to roll out public policies of prevention that reach out to all members of the education sector”.
In Suriname, BvL translated the ‘One Hour on AIDS’ activity into Dutch and 550 teachers led almost 16,000 secondary students in the lesson. So successful was the activity that many students were eager to continue the discussions after class time.
In Dominica special assemblies were held on World AIDS Day. Students were encouraged to ‘Spread the Word, NOT the virus’. The Dominica Association of Teachers (DAT) raised community awareness of HIV and AIDS issues, with short segments aired on the national radio station.
At the World AIDS Day ceremony in Kampala, Chairperson of the Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU), Margaret Rwabushaija warned that HIV/AIDS poses a real threat to the target of Education for All by 2015. She highlighted that AIDS takes a toll on the already understaffed education sector.
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) launched a new website on World AIDS Day, featuring information about the AIDS pandemic in the United States and Africa, its impact on education, and the powerful role of education in HIV/AIDS prevention.
Education International acknowledges the work of its affiliates in responding to the HIV and AIDS, both on World AIDS Day and throughout the year. Please return to our website for further updates on World AIDS Day activities in the coming weeks. For more in-depth information on the activities of member unions, please contact efaids@ei-ie.org.